From Paper to Action

In December 2017, the AHA launched The Value Initiative to help hospitals, health systems and the field take on affordability and value. In that time, AHA has engaged over 5,700 hospital leaders, providers and community stakeholders in conversations around affordability and value. The Value Initiative has also highlighted nearly 50 strategies that have been proven to lower cost, improve outcomes and enhance the patient experience. This work laid the foundation for where The Value Initiative’s efforts go next, as we take this work From Paper to Action.

From Paper to Action empowers hospitals, health systems and community organizations with tools and resources to implement four low-tech, value-based strategies that improve outcomes, enhance patient experience, while reducing costs. These value-based strategies are tech-light, simple, human and scalable. The tools provided will help hospitals implement the strategy and track and measure its progress.

The 4 value-based strategies are:

Building Age-Friendly Health Systems

Age-Friendly Health Systems is an evidence-based approach for age-friendly care developed by The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in partnership with the AHA and the Catholic Health Association of the United States. The initiative seeks to create a system where every older adult gets the best care possible; experiences no health care related harms and is satisfied with the health care he or she receives.

Resources

• Issue Brief: Creative Value with Age-Friendly Health Systems
• Case Study: St. James Parish Hospital
• Case Study: Banner Health System
• Case Study: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• Case Study: Kent Hospital
• Case Study: Rush University Health System
• Webinar Archive: Creating Value with Age-Friendly Health Systems 
• One-pager: Value of Age-Friendly Care

Team-based Approach for Obstetrics

Obstetric complications and adverse patient events are often preventable. Teamwork can improve detection and coordination of critical obstetric emergencies, subsequently improving decision making and patient outcomes. The Value Initiative will be joining forces with AHA Team Training to create a model aimed at educating, convening and shaping clinicians as they provide team-based care during labor and delivery.

Resources

• Webinar Archive: Obstetrics Team-Based Approaches Improve Value
• Practical Takeaways for When Crisis Strikes on the Labor and Delivery
• Making The Case - How Team-based Approaches Improve Value
• Better Health for Mothers and Babies

Using Z Codes for Social Determinants of Health

Z codes, a subset of ICD-10-CM diagnosis code, represent nonmedical factors that influence health status. Employing a standardized approach to documenting social needs with Z codes has the ability to improve value and affordability and has many benefits at the local and federal level. Through this work, The Value Initiative will develop resources that make the case for hospital leaders and offers operational guidance and support for clinicians and coders.

Resources

• ICD-10 Z Code Tool
• Value Break: The Power of Z Codes for Addressing Social Needs
• Podcast: Using Z Codes to Address Patient Needs

Implementation of OpenNotes

OpenNotes is an international movement to make health care more transparent. It encourages doctors, nurses, therapists and others to invite patients to read the notes they write to describe a visit. To date, more than 40 million patients in the United States now have access to their notes. There is a growing body of evidence that shows patients who have access to this information have better outcomes and enhanced patient experiences.

Resources

• Value Break: Fostering Transparent Communication Between Providers and Patients
• Podcast: Getting Patients and Caregivers on the Same Page